A lift bridge over the Erie Canal at Lockport...

...elevates at both ends...

...and nears its upward position. Pedestrians may cross when it is up using stairways

A lift bridge or vertical lift bridge is a type of movable bridge in which a span rises vertically while remaining parallel with the deck. In medicine, a truss is a kind of surgical appliance, particularly one used for hernia patients. ... A bascule bridge is a drawbridge with a counterweight that continuously balances the span, or leaf, throughout the entire upward swing in providing clearance for boat traffic. ... Railway swing bridge A swing bridge is a bridge that has its primary structural support at or near to its center, about which it can then pivot horizontally. ... Hörnbrücke in Kiel An example of a Folding Bridge is the Hörnbrücke (Hörnbridge or Hoernbridge) in the city of Kiel in Schleswig-Holstein. ... The bridge deck of a Retractable bridge can be rolled backwards to open a gap for crossing traffic, usually a ship on a waterway. ... A submerging bridge can also be a static bridge temporarily disappearing when water levels rise A moveable submersible bridge lowers the bridge deck to permit crossing traffic instead of raising it like a lift bridge. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x586, 170 KB)Exchange street lift bridge over the Erie Canal. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x586, 170 KB)Exchange street lift bridge over the Erie Canal. ... The white section highlights the general area of the canal, with the actual canal shown in blue The Erie Canal (later replaced by the Barge Canal, and subsequently renamed to the Erie Canal) is a canal in New York State, United States, that runs from the Hudson River to Lake... Lockport, New York refers to both a city and a town in Niagara County, New York, near Niagara Falls and Buffalo. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2048x1536, 590 KB)Exchange street lift bridge over the Erie Canal. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2048x1536, 590 KB)Exchange street lift bridge over the Erie Canal. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1928x1195, 463 KB)Exchange street lift bridge over the Erie Canal. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1928x1195, 463 KB)Exchange street lift bridge over the Erie Canal. ... The Golden Gate Bridge connecting San Francisco and its peninsula to Marin County A bridge is a structure built to span a gorge, valley, road, railroad track, river, body of water, or any other physical obstacle. ...

The vertical lift offers several benefits over other movable bridges such as the bascule and swing span bridge. Generally speaking they cost less to build. The counterweights in a vertical lift are only required to be equal to the weight of the deck, whereas bascule bridge counterweights must weigh several times more than the span being lifted. As a result, heavier materials can be used in the deck. A bascule bridge is a drawbridge with a counterweight that continuously balances the span, or leaf, throughout the entire upward swing in providing clearance for boat traffic. ... Railway swing bridge A swing bridge is a bridge that has its primary structural support at or near to its center, about which it can then pivot horizontally. ...

The biggest disadvantage to the lift bridge is the height restriction that results from the deck being above the passageway.

This type is often used for railroad bridges as seen here